Method and apparatus for producing a transfer tail



Aug. 23, 1960 w. v. HENRY ETAL 2,949,722

METHOD AND APPARATUS FORPRODUCING A TRANSFER TAIL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1957 INVENTORS. Donald 0. Cole Maxine L. gauge ATTY.

Willidm M Henr Ill/1m I:

1960 w. v. HENRY ETAL 2,949,722

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TRANSFER TAIL Filed' Jan. is, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TORS.

Val/

ATTY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TRANSFER TAIL William V. Henry, Asheville, Donald C. Cole, Candler, and Maxine L. Smathers, Asheville, N.C., assignors to American Enka (Iorporation, Enka, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 18, 1957, Ser. No. 635,025

6 Claims. (Cl. 57 -34) This invention relates generally to the production of a transfer tail or magazine wrap during a winding operation and more particularly to a method and appara tus for manually producing a transfer tail during the threading in operation of a spool or pirn on a drawtwisting machine.

Frequently, in various end uses to which yarn is applied, it becomes desirable and/or necessary to provide a continuous or uninterrupted supply of yarn for prolonged periods of operation. To perform this operation, it becomes necessary to tie the trailing end of the yarn from a first package onto the leading end of the yarn from a second package, since a single spool or yarn package would become depleted in muchtoo short a time.

In order that access may be'had to the trailing end of the yarn on a supply package it-is necessary to provide a transfer tail or magazine wrap to that package. This tail or magazine wrap consists of a portionof the yarn first wound onto the package, which portion is disposed so as to be positively secured to the yarn package but freely available for tying directly to the leading end of a second package.

The aforesaid transfer tail may be applied directly alongside, although spaced axially from, the wraps constituting the package per se or it may be separated from the package by a flange defining one end of the spool on which the yarn is wound.

Various automatic and semi-automatic means have been proposed for forming a transfer tail such as discussed above. One method of applying the tail outside a spool flange is disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,261,239, dated November 4, 1941. That method, however, requires the use of an elaborate mechanism for applying .the tail and also requires the use of an especially designed yarn receiving spool. In view of the large number of individual stations involved in a conventional drawtwisting machine, it is not practical, from an economic point of view, to convert existing machinery for performance of the type of operation taught in that patent. A further disadvantage to this method is that there is no way in.

which the number of turns constituting the tail can be varied or otherwise manually controlled.

A more desirable method of applying a transfer tail is taught in US. Patent No. 2,542,106, dated February 20, 1951. In that patent a spiral guide supplants normal operation of the reciprocable ring mechanism during threading in and forms a transfer tail at the base of a tubular spool immediately adjacent to that portion of the spool on which the package is wound. While this method is theoretically sound, it offers the same disadvantages as discussed supra, since a separate guide mechanism must be provided for each drawtwisting station and since the number of turns constituting the transfer tail cannot be varied or controlled manually.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to' provide a method and apparatus for tailmaking not having the inherent disadvantages of known devices.

ice

Another-object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for producing a transfer tail which is simple to operate and economical to produce.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for producing a transfer tail which requires substantially no structural modification of existing machinery.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for producing a transfer tail wherein the number of turns constituting the same may be varied or otherwise controlled manually. v

In accordance with the present invention, applicants} provide a portable tailmaking apparatus or hand tool which may be carried by the attendant from one draw-- twisting or winding station to another and which may beused as a means for supplanting operation of the ring mechanism during the threading in operation. In other' words, the apparatus deflects the yarn from the normalwinding path and causes it to wind only about one end of the take-up spool until a sufficient amount has been wound thereon to provide a transfer tail. When this oc curs, the yarn is released from the hand tool and thering mechanism again controls the winding operation causing the usual traversal of the spool by the yarn.

Other objects and further advantages of the present" invention will become apparent from the following de-- tailed explanation taken in conjunction with the annexed" drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of. one station of adrawtwisting machine showing only those portions of the machine which are considered essential.

to an understanding of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of applicants novel tail making apparatus and'showing also the manner in which yarn is guided thereby;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the tailmaking apparatus;

Figure 4 is a view of the pivotally mounted restraining" plate, partially in section, taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a view of the deflector bar, partially in section, taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 3.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with attention directed'first to Figure 1 In that figure reference numeral 10- designates generally a drawtwisting-station to which yarn of the drawings.

11 is fed. .In a drawtwisting machine of the type shown by way of example, the yarn is fed from a supply source, through appropriate guides and tensioning means to an around a first set of drawing rollers and then to a snubbing pin (none of which has been shown). From the: snubbing pin the yarn passes to and around a second set of drawing rollers 12 and then through ring traveler 13 which is slidably mounted on ring mechanism 14. The n'ng mechanism and traveler normally reciprocate vertinot essential to satisfactory operation of the present invention. The aforesaid disc 16 is provided with at least one slot, as indicated at 18, for a purpose to be described hereinbelow.

A suction tube or temporary waste collector 20 is positioned adjacent to the drawtwisting station 10 and re- 1 ceives yarn from the traveler 13 during a dofling operation, or as shownin full lines 11d in Figure 1. This Patented Aug. 23, 1960 To the spindle 15 is rigidly attached a disctube is slidably mounted on the frame of the drawtwisting machine and accommodates a plurality of drawtwisting stations. Suitable means is provided, such as a vacuum pump (not shown) for applying a suction to this tube in order. to'ensure passageof the yarn from the drawing rollers 12, through the ring traveler 13, and into a waste receptacle (also not shown), if desired.

During normal operation of the drawtwisting apparatus shown in Figure 1, yarn 11 passes from ring traveler 13 directly to the spool 17 mounted on spindle 15, as

indicated by dotted line 11b. As the ring mechanism" 14 reciprocates and spindle 15 rotates, in the manner indicated by arrows, the yarn is laid on the spool, thus forming package 21 which also is indicated by dotted lines. When the, formation of package 21 is completed and the yarn supply is exhausted, the yarn unwinds from the, drawing rollers, becomes unthreaded from the ring traveler 13 and the full spool may be replaced by one which is empty. The present invention is concerned with the steps involved immediately after the placing of an empty spool '17 on the spindle 15 and further discussion will be directed to that portion of the dofiing process.

After an empty spool has been placed on spindle 15, the threading in and tailmaking process can be initiated. In order to expedite this process, applicants provide a novel apparatus indicated generally by reference numetal 22 in Figures 2-5, inclusive. consists in a supporting frame 23, an elongated handle 24, a pivotally mounted restraining plate 25 and a deflector bar. 26 which is fixed with respect to the frame 23. As can be seen from the drawings, both the restraining plate and deflector bar are mounted on one end of the supporting frame 23 and extend generally in the same plane therefrom.

The restraining plate 25 is curved and conforms generally in shape to a bell crank, having a first arm27 projecting from the frame 23 and a second arm 28 pivotally secured within slot 30 of frame 23 by pivot screw 31. The arm 28 is provided with a knurled or otherwise roughened finger piece as indicated at 32 in order to ensure better grip of the same by the finger of the attendant, as will be explained later. The bottom of slot 36 serves as a stop and limits clockwise. as well as counterclockwise rotation of the plate 25, as demonstrated in Figure 4 by full lines, which show the operative or yarn engaging position of the plate and dotted lines, which show the inoperative or yarn releasing position. The inner curved edge. surface 33 of arm 27 serves as a temporary guide or restraining means for yarn 11 and, consequently, is rounded to prevent undesirable abrasive action thereon.

The deflector bar 26 consists of an elongated body 34 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame 23, a spur 35 which projects at an angle from the body 34 on the side thereof opposite to the frame 23 and which, together with body 34, defines a yarn guide groove 36, an outer end 37 which is inclined with respect to the body 34 in order to facilitate threading and a retaining end 38. This latter end is bent at an angle of approximately 90 degrees and projects into a suitable opening in frame 23, in which it is secured by a set screw or other suitable means 40, as shown in Figure 5. All exposed surfaces of the bar 26' also are rounded to prevent abrasive action on the yarn to be handled by the apparatus during the tailmaking process.

It has been found that if the restraining plate 25 and deflector bar 26 are formed from stainless steel the yarn is subjected to very little wear. Obviously, however, other material. having a smooth yarn contacting surface, such as chrome plated steel or ceramic, could be used equally satisfactorily for this purpose. The supporting frame 23 and handle 24 of the tailmaking tool.

22-cai1 be constructed from Bakelite, wood or any other suitable material, since in the use of this tool these por- This apparatus.

tions never contact the yarn. To ensure this latter condition, the frame 23 is cut away as shown at 41, in the preferred embodiment, in order to expose more of the smooth surface of bar 26 and less of the frame 23 at the zone of yarn contact. Moreover, the groove 36 defined by spur 35 positions the yarn in a spaced relation ship with respect to the end of frame 23.

The operation of the applicants invention will now be described with particular attention directed to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. As explained briefly hereinabove, during the building of package 21, yarn 11 is fed from drawing rollers 12 to ring traveler 13 and then directly to take-up spool 17 in the manner indicated by dotted line 11b in Figure 1, it being understood that the vertical reciprocation of ring mechanism 14, occa sioned by well-known means, not shown, produces a vertical reciprocation of the yarn 11b. When the yarn supply source has become exhausted and winding onto first spool 17 is completely terminated, rotation of the spindle 15 is stopped by known braking means, although drawing rollers 12 continue to rotate. With the spindle 15 braked against rotation, filled spool 17 is removed and replaced by one which is empty. The exhausted yarn supply source is replaced by one which is full and threading in of this station proceeds, the yarn being passed through the various guides, tensioning means, around the first drawing rollers, snubbing pin, second drawing rollers 12, through the ring traveler 13 and into the open end of suction tube or temporary collector 2b, which may feed the yarn to a waste receptacle, if desired. The doffing procedure up to this point is known in the art, as demonstrated by British Patent No. 643,625, published September 20, 1950, which patent, however, does not provide means for forming a transfer tail or magazine wrap.

That yarn portion 11a which extends between the ring 13 and the suction tube 20 is now threaded into the tailmaking apparatus 22, by manipulation of the latter, in the manner shown in Figure 2, the yarn passing over the restraining plate 2.5, so to speak, and under the deflector bar 26 Within guide groove 36 of this member. The machine attendant depresses knurled finger piece 32 of the plate 25 with his finger, for example, causing the same to assume the operative position shown in full lines in Figure 4 and as also shown in Figure 2. The plate is held in this position until threading in is accomplished.

The spindle brake now is released and the spindle, disc and spool are caused to rotate relative to the apparatus 22. Next, the apparatus 22, with the yarn running through it as shown in Figure 2, is shifted laterally until the plate 25 and bar 26 straddle or lie on opposite sides of disc 16, as shown in Figure 1, and held in this position with the yarn deflected from path 11a and urged into path 11c which is against the outer edge of said disc. As soon as the slot 18 of disc 16 appears adjacent to the yarn 110, the latter slides therein and begins to move with the disc, this placing a tensional force of that portion 11d of the yarn extending between the disc and the suction tube 20. This teusional force ultimately breaks the yarn 11d between the two points mentioned above and provides for a momentary attachment of the yarn to the rotating disc, and winding of a tail onto the lower part of empty spool 17 begins.

Severance of the yarn as indicated supra releases the same from deflector bar 26, which now has served its purpose for this particular doffing operation. On the other hand, the plate 25, which is still held in the operative position shown in Figure 1, restrains the yarn from moving to the normal position indicated by 11b, since the yarn passes over said plate before engaging the spool, In other words, the plate 25 supplants the operation of reciprocating ring mechanism 14 temporarily and this mechanism has no control over the position of the yarn winding onto spool 17. The yarn, therefore, winds onto spool 17 only at that end adjacent to disc 16 so long as finger piece 32 is maintained in a depressed position. This operation produces a ti nsfer tail 42 of any desired number of turns, which tail is positively secured to the spool 17 but which is freely accessible for subsequent tying to the leading end of a second package.

Release of the restraining plate 25 by removing the attendants finger from knurled piece 32 simultaneously clears the yarn therefrom, since the tendency of the yarn to follow the reciprocation of ring mechanism 14 imparts suificient bias to the plate to pivot the same to the inoperative or dotted line position shown in Figure 4, once the counter balancing finger pressure is relieved at said finger piece. With the tailmaking apparatus inactivated, the yarn jumps to whatever position is at that time occupied by the reciprocating ring mechanism and continues to follow movement of the mechanism in a manner known in the art.

It is obvious that the length of transfer tail or magazine wrap produced by the above described method and apparatus is dependent only upon the length of time which the attendant holds the finger piece 32 depressed. In actual practice, however, only a very short time is required to produce a satisfactory tail. For example, with the spindle rotating at 3,000 revolutions per minute, or 50 revolutions per second, a tail of turns could be produced in approximately 0.2 second. This may be varied, of course, depending on the tail desired and the speed of rotation of the spindle.

Further, it is possible to spring bias therestraining plate 25 toward the operative or yarn contacting position. In the operation of this type of apparatus the spring tension could be pre-set in order that the plate would pivot to inoperative position as soon as the tension in yarn 11d reached a predetermined value. With the yarn released to the control of the ring mechanism, the plate 25 would snap back to operative position for use at subsequent stations. Additionally, the tubular spool shown herein could be provided with a slotted end plate or flange, in which case the slotted disc 16 would not be necessary.

The foregoing method may be practiced without modifying any of the existing drawtwisting machinery if the same is equipped with a slotted disc as shown in the aforementioned British patent or, in any event, by merely slotting the existing flange or disc on available equipment. The tail-making apparatus is economical to produce and simple to operate. Moreover, only a few of these tools are required in order to attend a plurality of drawtwisting stations, since the tool is not attached to and never becomes a part of the drawtwisting machine.

It is understood that the foregoing description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the present invention except to the extent defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of producing a transfer tail during the threading in of yarn on the spool of a drawtwisting machine having a reciprocating ring mechanism, a ring traveler, a rotating spindle and a slotted spool supporting disc disposed in driven relationship with the spindle comprising the steps of threading the yarn through the ring traveler, feeding the yarn temporarily to a waste collector along a path adjacent to the slotted disc, simultaneously contacting the yarn on opposite sides at spaced points with a deflector bar and a restarining plate, respectively, shifting said deflector bar laterally with respect to said path thereby deflecting the yarn into contact with the rotating slotted disc and causing the same to break between the disc and the Waste collector, positioning the restraining plate immediately adjacent to the rotating disc thereby restraining the yarn winding to one end of the spool, and removing the restraining plate from contact with the yarn after the desired transfer tail has been produced, thereby releasing the yarn for traverse in response to reciprocation of the ring mechanism.

2. A method of producing a transfer tail during the threading in of yarn on the spool of a drawtwisting machine having a reciprocating ring mechanism, a ring traveler, a rotating spindle and a slotted disc driven by the spindle comprising the steps of threading the yarn through the ring traveler, feeding the yarn temporarily to a waste collector along a path adjacent to the slotted disc, threading the yarn over a restraining plate and under a deflector bar of a tailmaking apparatus, shifting said deflector bar laterally with respect to said path thereby deflecting the yarn into contact with the rotating slotted disc and causing the yarn to break between the disc and the waste collector, positioning the restraining plate immediately adjacent to the rotating disc thereby restraining the yarn winding to one end of the spool, and removing the restraining plate from contact with the yarn after the desired transfer tail has been produced thereby releasing the yarn for traverse in response to reciprocation of the ring mechanism.

3. A portable tailmaking apparatus comprising a frame to be grasped by an operator during use, a deflector bar extending from said frame, means extending from said deflector bar rigidly secured to and defining a yarn receiving groove, and a restraining plate extending from said frame in substantially the same plane as said deflector bar, said restraining plate being mounted for movement relative to said frame and said deflector bar.

4. A portable tailmaking apparatus comprising a frame to be grasped by an operator during use, a deflector bar rigidly secured to and extending from said frame, and a restraining plate pivotally mounted on said frame in substantially the same plane as said deflector bar.

5. A portable tailmaking apparatus for producing a transfer tail during threading in of a spool on a winding machine comprising a supporting frame to be grasped by an operator during use, an elongated deflector bar rigidly attached to and extending from one end of said frame, means positioned intermediate the ends of said bar defining a yarn receiving groove, and a restraining plate pivotally attached to said one end of said frame.

6. A portable tailmaking apparatus for producing a transfer tail during threading in of a spool on a winding machine comprising a supporting frame to be grasped by an operator during use, an elongated deflector bar rigidly attached to and extending from one end of said supporting frame, means on said deflector bar defining a yarn receiving groove, a restraining plate pivotally atatched to and extending from said one end of the supporting frame, and means on said supporting frame limiting rotation of said restraining plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,572,138 Griset Oct. 23, 1951 2,747,359 Keefe May 29, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 731,452 Great Britain June 8, 1955 I Attesting Officer UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No 1, 2,949 722 August 23,

William V, Henry et al0 It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 32, strike out rigidly secured t0 and' and insert the same before "extending" first occurrence, in line 31, same column 6 Signed and sealed this 9th day of May 1961;

(SEAL) I Attest:

ERNEST Ww SWIDER DAVID L, LADD Commissioner of Patents 

